Orlando Pirates face familiar foe Sekhukhune United in Carling Knockout quarter-final

Orlando Pirates will renew their rivalry with Sekhukhune United when the two sides meet in the Carling Knockout quarter-finals at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday, with a place in the semi-finals at stake.

The Soweto venue will host another meeting between the two teams, who have already faced each other three times this season. Pirates have won all three encounters and will be hoping to maintain that dominance when they return to knockout action.

The Buccaneers enter the fixture in strong form after a 3-0 victory over tournament debutants Milford in the Round of 16. The result extended their winning run in the Carling Knockout to five matches, dating back to last season's title-winning campaign.

Pirates have also been impressive across competitions, recording five consecutive victories in their latest run. Their defensive organisation has been a key feature, with the Soweto giants keeping four successive clean sheets before conceding in their 2-1 victory over Kaizer Chiefs in last weekend's Soweto Derby.

They will now face a Sekhukhune side determined to produce a different result after suffering a setback in their latest league fixture.

Babina Noko had put together a five-match unbeaten run, including three consecutive victories, before their momentum was halted by a 1-0 defeat to Milford.

Before that setback, Sekhukhune had made an impressive start to their Carling Knockout campaign, beating Richards Bay 3-1 to book their place in the quarter-finals.

The victory secured Sekhukhune's first appearance in the last eight of the competition since their debut campaign in 2023. They will now be targeting a maiden semi-final appearance, although they face a Pirates side with considerable experience in cup competitions.

Despite Pirates' strong record against Sekhukhune, the Buccaneers know they cannot afford to underestimate their opponents.

Coaches expect a tough battle

Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou expects a demanding contest and believes his team will need to produce their best performance to progress.

“This will be a very difficult game. We must be at our best to win.”

Sekhukhune assistant coach Papi Zothwane, meanwhile, insisted that previous results will have little bearing on Saturday's encounter.

“You can’t dwell on the past based on what happened in our past results against Orlando Pirates. It’s a new game.”

Pirates hold the head-to-head advantage

The Buccaneers have won all three meetings with Sekhukhune this season, including their two-legged MTN8 semi-final and a Betway Premiership encounter.

Pirates have also enjoyed the upper hand in their previous cup meetings, winning both single-match knockout encounters and their most recent two-legged contest.

Saturday's fixture will be the first time the two clubs meet in the Carling Knockout.

Overall, the rivalry stretches back to 2021, with Pirates recording nine victories in 15 meetings across all competitions. Sekhukhune have won four times, with their last two victories over the Soweto giants coming at Orlando Amstel Arena.

With a semi-final place on the line, both teams will be determined to put their recent form and previous encounters aside and deliver when it matters most.

Match details

Match: Orlando Pirates vs Sekhukhune United
Competition: Carling Knockout quarter-final
Venue: Orlando Amstel Arena, Soweto
Kick-off: 15:00
TV: SuperSport PSL and SABC 1
Tickets: Available online through OpenTickets